Post-doctoral Researcher

**Post-Doctoral Researcher (1 Vacancy)**

The Centre for Social Studies (CES) - Associate Laboratory - University of Coimbra (Portugal), invites

Productions about the Amazon River Basin-ECO” (Grant Agreement 101002359), funded by the European

Research Council (ERC) under the framework program H2020, and coordinated by the Principal Investigator

(PI), Patrícia Vieira.

Scholars working on the Amazon River Basin with a background in Environmental History, with a focus on

the Amazon and critical plant studies, or other relevant fields are welcome to apply.

**A. Project Description**

Animals and plants feature prominently in cultural productions about the Amazon River Basin, testifying to

the centrality of the region’s natural environment both for local populations and for the earth’s biosphere.

The key hypothesis of ECO is that texts (broadly understood to include mythology, folk tales, the lyrics of

songs, essays, literature, travel writings, etc.), cinema and art about this area highlight the ways in which

non-human beings dynamically shape human cultural life. The project’s main challenge is to resort both to

Amazonian thought and to the academic field of ecocriticism to assess how human cultural productions

about Amazonia lend a voice to animals and plants. ECO develops the concept of _zoophytography_ to describe

the inscription of non-humans in texts, films and artworks, thus decentering humanity as the sole source of

meaning-making.

ECO will** **make a significant contribution to the environmental humanities, offering an Amazonian perspective

on ecocriticism, environmental philosophy and post-colonial studies. By creating a deeper understanding of

conceptions of Amazonian fauna and flora, the project will reveal the interdependence of humans and non
- humans, draw attention to environmental degradation in Amazonia and uncover more equitable views on

animals and plants from the region.

ECO started on January 1, 2022, with a duration of 60 months.

**B. Scientific Field**

Humanities and Social Sciences

**C. Requirements**

PhD degree in History in hand (defense process finalized) before March 31, 2024.

Applicants with an academic degree and diploma issued by a foreign Higher Education Institution must

present proof of recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese Higher Education System (law

degree by the Portuguese authorities before signing the contract.

3. or not fill the position.

profile:
specialization in the Amazon River Basin, experience working in the region, and a record of publications on

topics related to the Amazon.

Knowledge of English, Portuguese and Spanish is a requirement. Knowledge of at least one of the Indigenous

languages of the Amazon is highly desirable.

The selected researcher will have the following responsibilities:
a) Actively contribute to the intellectual life of the project, including, but not limited to: participation in

reading groups; participation in internal meetings; participation in meetings with the project’s advisory

board;
b) Contribute to the planning of ECO’s fieldwork; carry out fieldwork; gather, analyze and organize data;
c) Regularly publish research results in academic journal and books; and regularly participate in academic

conferences to disseminate research results;

d) Contribute to the advanced training seminars organized by the project and to the mentoring of the

project’s PhD student;
e) Contribute to the organization of academic conferences and other events sponsored by the project;
f) Contribute to the project’s public outreach activities, including, but not limited to: maintaining the

project’s website; publication of op-eds in the media; publication of podcasts and video logs in the project’s

website; the production of a documentary film; and participation in the CES goes to School initiative;
g) Contribute to drafting the project’s reports to be handed in to the ERC;
h) Contribute to the project’s daily management tasks, namely scientific reporting; monitoring of project

milestones; and all other tasks required to guarantee the successful implementation of ECO;
i) Write reports on all activities undertaken, according to a work plan set in the Description of Action, and a

calendar set with the PI.

**F. Applicable Legislation and Regulations**

approves a doctoral hiring regime with a view to boosting scientific and technological employment in all

areas of knowledge (RJEC). The hiring will also be governed by the Labor Code approved by Law no. 7/2009

of February 12, as currently worded.

**G. Workplace**

Research will be performed at the Centre for Social Studies facilities in Coimbra, Portugal. Selected

is expected to move to Portugal for the duration of the contract.

**H. Duration of the Contract**

The contract will be signed for the sole purpose of the execution of the project, starting in May, 2024. The

contract is fulltime, in exclusive dedication to ECO, until the en